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ATHENS - David Beckham hit back on Friday at suggestions that hemight be selected for the British Olympic football side at theLondon Games because of his celebrity status rather than on meritalone. "I've never said it's disrespectful but it's kind of a questionI've always felt is," the former England captain told reporters ona visit to meet children at a school in Athens when asked about hisprospects. "Throughout my career I've been pretty successful and played forsome pretty big teams...and managers without sentiment. "When you've played for managers like Alex Ferguson and FabioCapello and Sven-Goran Eriksson...they don't pick players becausethey want to fill the stadium with people or sell shirts. "I don't want to be picked on a shirt sale or a stadium filler,"added the 37-year-old LA Galaxy player, part of a London delegationin the Greek capital to bring the Olympic flame back to Britain. "I want to be picked because of what I can bring to the team," saidthe moustachioed veteran. Beckham, a global sporting celebrity who drew one of the loudestcheers of the night when he arrived at Thursday's formal flamehandover ceremony and was introduced as 'Sir David', is no longerin contention for a place in the England side. However he is strongly tipped to be one of three 'over-age'playersin the first united British side to compete at an Olympics since1960. BRAVE HODGSON Team GB manager Stuart Pearce recently went to Los Angeles to watchhim play, in a game Beckham said could have been both better andworse. "I want to play. That's my main objective," he said. "I don't wantto go as a coach." The former Manchester United midfielder said he would be fitenough. "I've never played in an Olympic Games before and never taken partin an Olympic Games so I would love to, I'd love to be part of theteam. "I am still training and playing throughout the season," he added."We are only nine games into our season, I'm playing well andfeeling fit. Fitness all the way through my career has not been aproblem. It won't be leading up to the Games. "If I am selected I will be in good condition," he said. Beckham, confident he would be able to get his hands on tickets forthe Games for his excited children, said the flame handoverceremony had given him goosebumps and a taste of what he mightexpect. He has yet to be told whether he will be carrying the torch on aleg of the relay, but he will light the first cauldron in Britainlater on Friday after stepping off the plane in Cornwall. East London-born, and growing up not far from the new Olympic Parkin Stratford, Beckham said it would be truly special if he couldultimately carry the torch through London. "Everyone knows I love representing my country," said the man with115 caps for England. "That's one of the reasons why I've alwayssaid that I wouldn't probably retire from the England team becauseI always want to be available." Beckham congratulated England manager Roy Hodgson for his"veryclever move" in appointing his former Manchester United team mateand 'Best Man' Gary Neville to the England coaching staff for Euro2012. "Roy Hodgson is a brave man," he grinned. "I think it's great. Gary's knowledge throughout the game, he'sbeen in big tournaments, played for England for years, I think it'sa very clever thing but also great for the players and management." Beckham hoped England could go all the way in Poland and Ukraine inJune and July. "It's a new team, young players and one of the first times wherewe've gone into a big competition without huge, huge expectation onour shoulders. I think that could be a good thing for the team.". The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Car Timing Belts , Cogged V Belt, and more. For more , please visit Industrial Timing Belts today!
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